Fulham will take on Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium this lunchtime with a place in the quarter finals of the famous cup competition at stake.
For the Swans it would be the first venture beyond the 5th Round since 1964 and there is a genuine excitement around the city that they stand on the verge of a real piece of history.
And couple that with standing on the edge of the Championship play offs and it is easy to see why some bookmakers have instilled the Swans as favourites to progress in the competition.
And with a manager, hailed as the next Arsene Wenger by one newspaper, with such meticulous attention to detail there is no reason why this couldn’t turn into a double reason of their very own.
“Of course there is excitement because we realise there is a chance to reach the quarter-finals of the best club competition in the world,” Roberto told this morning’s Western Mail
“And the team do have a sense of pride of what they did in the last round and this is a chance to enjoy it with the fans.
“But, as far as the bigger picture is concerned, like with the television coverage and everything that has come with this game, we are not looking at it.
“We have a level-headed squad who know what they have to do, who have set their own standards and our focus is on our own game and being ourselves.
“Nothing else comes into it. If you want to talk about distractions then with the league being so demanding then this game is a bonus, a positive distraction. Our aim is still the league.
“So we can enjoy this – and the reality of the situation is that we are underdogs. There are always surprises, there are always upsets and if people think we can cause one it is a great compliment.
“But we take it with a pinch of salt because we know if we can simply be ourselves at this stage against Premiership opposition, then that will be a great achievement in itself.
“I am a big, big admirer of him and the way he has adapted through his career,” Martinez added when questioned on the capabilities of Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
“The capabilities he has to work in different circumstances is unique these days . He’s been competitive in every league he has been in and has developed that great tactical understanding you get from working abroad.
“And he is a football gentleman who has taken a team from a relegation fight into one with talent and experience in every position.”
